During King Charles III's opening of Parliament, the British had a series of customs and traditions that reminded them of their tremendous and complicated past. King Charles III's third time carrying out this duty will be his first State Opening with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government in power, following 14 years of Conservative rule. These traditions might seem strange to others, but they maintain the status quo and prevent unforeseen circumstances. The Monarch does not make laws. Since June 1215, at the signing of Magna Carter at Runnymead, the King's power has been restricted, and the Monarch is constantly reminded they are not above the law. The King reigns, but he does not rule. His government rules, and as head of state in the UK, the King is constitutionally obliged to follow the government's advice. It sought to prevent the King from exploiting his power and placed limits on royal authority by establishing law as a power. The UK has a Constitutional Monarch, which limits the Monarch's power.
After his succession in 1625, King Charles I believed in the divine rights of kings. He wanted to rule England without Parliament and did so without calling Parliament for about 10 years. But when the Scots invaded England he needed money to raise an army. There was a cause in the Magna Catra that said that the King could not raise taxes without Parliament. He used other methods at first to raise money without taxation, but there is a limit to where that can go. Finally, a Civil War broke out between Parliament and King Charles I. The Parliamentarians won, and they executed King Charles I in 1649. Oliver Cornwall became the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. Oliver Cornwall's Puritans encouraged industriousness: it was believed that hard work helped a person reach heaven. As such, Cromwell believed that pointless enjoyment was a sin, while sports and entertainment were banned, and theatres and inns were also closed. Plain dress was also enforced. Sunday was a holy day under Puritan rule, which meant that work was not allowed - people who were found to be doing unnecessary work on a Sunday could be punished. There were monthly compulsory fasting days enforced. One of the most extreme examples of Cromwell's Puritan rule was that Christmas was banned, and no festivities or celebrations were allowed. He wanted Christmas to be a purely religious celebration in which people contemplated the birth of Jesus. Hence, it was like being ruled by religious zealots or extremists like the modern-day Taliban. The various factions that came together to get rid of the King found that they could not form a government to successfully rule as what each fraction wanted was completely different. They did not want to compromise on their position. To maintain this and security, he became increasingly dictatorial and had to rely heavily on spies, collaborators and informers. When he died in 1658, the people had enough and were begging for King Charles I's son, King Charles II, to come and rule. He was called back and agreed to work within a particular framework.
The King's Speech is part of the State Opening of Parliament. It is delivered by the Monarch, though written by the government, and sets the government's priorities for the coming parliamentary session. While this includes setting out legislative plans for the Parliament, the government can later introduce bills not included in the speech. After the King's Speech, the House of Commons returned to business. There are a variety of speeches by the father and mother of the House. The King's Speech was accepted, and other MPs, including Ms Florence Eshalomi, the Labour MP representing Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, were called by the Chip Whip to make speeches. Ms Eshalomi joked that she nearly backed out, but she realised that this allowed her to state on record that "Nigerian Jollof is the best Jollof".
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| Ms Florence Eshalomi |
Among the traditions are
1. The King's procession from Buckingham Palace
He is put in a golden carriage and is escorted by the Household Cavalry from Buckingham Palace. This is a union of the two most senior regiments in the British Army: the Life Guards and The Blues & Royals. The officers' uniform is the one they used when fighting on horseback. They no longer fight wars using horses in the Western world. The last battle where horses were significantly used was in WW2, although the Mujahideen used horses in their guerrilla warfare tactics. Mechanised vehicles largely replaced cavalry.
When the King arrives at Parliament, he enters via the Sovereign's Entrance and proceeds to the Robing Room. Wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State, he leads the Royal Procession through the Royal Gallery.
2. Checking for explosives
Before the King arrived at Parliament, the royal bodyguards, the Yeomen of the Guard, ceremoniously searched Westminster's cellars to check for explosives. This goes back to Guy Fawkes's Catholic coup plot. This time, there was a real problem between the Catholics and Protestants in England. You could be killed for being a Catholic. A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne. The Sovereign must, in addition, be in communion with the Church of England and must swear to preserve the established Church of England and the established Church of Scotland. The Sovereign must also promise to uphold the Protestant succession. King James I of England and James VI of Scotland were to be assassinated at the opening of Parliament and replaced by a Catholic monarch. After receiving warnings and tips and further noticing that some distinguished Members of Parliament were absent. They decided to check the cellars under Parliament and found Guy Fawkes with explosives. Guy Fawkes was tortured and later was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. The ceremony of checking for explosives is to remind them of when they tried to execute the King. Also, there is Guy Fawkes night and fireworks night on the 5th of November every year.
3. MP held hostage
Because searching for explosives wasn't over-cautious enough, an MP was then ceremoniously held hostage in Buckingham Palace while the King went to Westminster to ensure the Monarch's safe return. On this occasion, the person chosen was Ms Samantha Dixon, the Labour MP for Chester North and Neston, who was taken hostage. It is totally different from the Designated Survivor or Designated Successor in the US, where a person in the line of succession is kept distant from the others in case of a catastrophic event.
This tradition of holding an MP hostage at the State Opening of Parliament is deeply rooted in history, tracing to Charles I. His tumultuous relationship with Parliament, which culminated in his execution on the order of Parliament in 1649 during the Civil War, is a significant part of this tradition. A copy of Charles I's death warrant, displayed in the robing room used by the Monarch, serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of a monarch's interference with Parliament.
4. The Royal Procession
The Monarch then arrived at the Sovereign Entrance and proceeded to the Robing Room, which is not where you get into one of those white spa gowns but instead put on the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State.
King Charles III then leads the Royal Procession through the Royal Gallery, packed with hundreds of guests worldwide, to the Chamber of the House of Lords, our favourite place worldwide.
5. The Black Rod
Black Rod is one of the most senior officers in the House of Lords, external, and participates in major ceremonial events in the Palace of Westminster.
Their full title is Lady or Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.
Sarah Clarke was appointed Lady Usher of the Black Rod in November 2017, formally taking up the role in February 2018. The title Black Rod comes from the ebony staff topped with a golden lion carried by the holder.
She is the first female holder of the position in its 650-year history.
External Black Rod's role in the State Opening of Parliament is one of the most well-known moments in the parliamentary calendar.
After being sent from the House of Lords, Black Rod knocks on the door of the House of Commons three times to summon MPs for the King's Speech. Traditionally, the Commons door is slammed in Black Rod's face. This is to demonstrate the independence of the House of Commons from the Crown. But the doors are later opened, and Black Rod enters the House of Commons. Black Rod addresses the Speaker, inviting the whole House to join them in the House of Lords.
"Mr Speaker, the King commands this Honourable House.
To attend his Majesty immediately in the House of Peers."
They follow Black Rod, being led by the Speaker, the senior members (the Father and Mother of the House, then the leaders of the parties, cabinet members and their opposite numbers), and the others in an orderly fashion. After listening to the King's Speech, they go back to their House in an orderly fashion.
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6. The Mace
The mace in Parliament symbolises royal authority; without it, neither House can meet or pass laws.
The House of Commons mace is a silver gilt ornamental club about five feet long, dating from the reign of Charles II. On each day the House sits, the serjeant at arms carries the mace to the Chamber at the head of the Speaker's procession. It is placed on the House's table, except when the House is in committee when it rests on two brackets underneath the table.
The House of Lords used two maces, one from Charles II and another from William III. One of the maces accompanies the Lord Speaker into the Chamber and is placed on the Woolsack whenever the House meets.
The Opening of Parliament is a traditional ceremony full of symbols and traditions with special meaning. It maintains UK democracy, and it is essential that the phrase "The King reigns but does not rule" is used.
Also, King Charles I was executed by Parliament, a thing this current King would know too well as a student of history.
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